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Separate paths for basketball buddies

Teammates for the past nine years, and friends for the past 13, Holy Cross basketball players Luke Ehman (left) and Richard Bos are heading their separate ways next season. Ehman is joining the Waterloo Warriors, while Bos remains closer to home, heading to Kamloops to play for the Thompson Rivers WolfPack.

— image credit: Evan Seal/Black Press

Should it ever come down to a head-to-head meeting, with Luke Ehman driving the lane and only Richard Bos standing in his way to the hoop, friendship would definitely be put aside for the time being.

Bos admits with a smile he would have no problem standing his ground and delivering a hard foul if necessary on his lifelong friend, if that is what the game called for.

“We would probably be the worst of friends (during the game),” added Ehman.

That is what happens when high school comes to an end and players used to being teammates for the past five years, head their separate ways.

But for the two Langley chums, their friendship stretches back even further, as they first met as kindergarten students at St. Catherine’s Catholic Elementary School. And ever since they were in the fourth grade, the pair have also been teammates on the basketball court.

But starting next year, the on-court partnership comes to an end as the 18-year-olds head their separate ways in pursuit of a university education and some post-secondary basketball at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) level.

Ehman is off to Ontario, where he has commwtted to attend the University of Waterloo.

Bos is also heading east, albeit it much closer to home, going to Kamloops to play for the Thompson Rivers WolfPack.

“Oh yeah,” said Holy Cross coach Matt Lechasseur, when asked if Ehman and Bos are competitive.

“Every little thing is a competition, whether it is drills, or who hits more shots, or who had more assists.

“They find a way to compete in everything.”

Lechasseur has coached them for the past three years and said the pair’s graduation will leave a big void for the team.

“They are really hard working and pretty dedicated to what they are doing,” he said. “They are great leaders for us.”

Ehman was drawn to Waterloo for its academic reputation, and for the chance to play.

Bos had considered attending an Ontario school, which would have made the pair conference rivals, but ultimately chose to stay closer to home.

Both are excited to play at the next level.

“It will be a different experience,” Ehman admitted. “(But) it will be nice to learn a different kind of game.”

Bos, a six-foot-six small forward, knows it will be a whole lot tougher competing in the Canada West conference.

He watched both his future conference rivals Trinity Western and UBC play this last season — they won silver and bronze, respectively at the CIS national championships — and knows just how tough things will be.

“It will be a challenge; it is just scary to see how good some of those guys are,” he said. “But it is exciting.”

The pair are walking into different situations.

Ehman is expected to get the chance to contribute right away at Waterloo.

The Warriors play a high-tempo game and expect scoring from their guards.

“He will fit right into that because he is very athletic,” said Waterloo coach Tom Kieswetter, whose starting point guard has graduated, meaning Ehman will have a chance for some minutes as a freshman alongside another returnee at the position.

“We expect him to run the team, quarterback the attack and get some points out of him,” he said.

Kieswetter has not met Ehman, and is relying on video he has seen.

“He is very creative and very good in getting by people.”

Thompson Rivers coach Scott Clark tracked Bos all season after first seeing him at a Centre for Performance Basketball BC camp.

“I was impressed with how hard he worked,” Clark said, stressing that work ethic is essential to success.

“No player comes in as a freshman ready to contribute.

“What you are looking for is a kid who has those physical characteristics and has the ability to work and develop into the type of player you have a vision for.”

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